Measuring means for use in playing football



y 1965 R. G. MIDDLETON 3,181,241

MEASURING MEANS FOR USE IN PLAYING FOOTBALL Filed Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fins-2 70 IFOBfFT 6. 400014-704 y 1965 R. G. MIDDLETON 3,181,241

MEASURING MEANS FOR USE IN PLAYING FOOTBALL Filed Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fivnslrak 055 6. 400044-701 United States Patent "Ice 3,181,241 MEASURING MEANS FOR USE IN PLAYENG FOOTBALL Robert G. Middleton, 2920 Douglas, Des Moines, Iowa Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,069 3 Claims. (Cl. 33-46) This invention relates to the game football, and more particularly to a means located at the side of the field for measuring gains.-

In the playing of football, there often is the question as to whether or not a team has carried the ball the necessary distance to complete the required yardage. The matter is usually resolved by two linemen actually measuring the distance the football has been moved by the use of a measured chain having a vertical pole handle at each end. While such a procedure is quite accurate, it is undersirable for several reasons. Firstly, the men taking the measurement are required to enter the actual playing ground. Secondly, much time and effort are expended in completing the task. Thirdly, the members of the teams, and who are at this time not in movement, are standing around on the field and therefore interfere with the measuring phase at hand.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide an accurate measuring means that is operatable at one side of the playing field, thus eliminating the necessity of the people taking the measurement from entering upon the actual playing area.

A further object of this invention is to provide a football gain measuring means that may be operated by one person.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sight measuring device for the playing of football that is adjustable for viewing the dead ball regardless of its lateral position on the field.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a measuring means for use in the playing of football that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side View of the device;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the central lower portion of the frame means;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device and illustrates its resilient adjustable movement forwardly for viewing a grounded ball relatively close to the adjacent side line of the playing field;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device in use;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of the chain clamping means; and- FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the chain secured to the track.

In the drawings I have used the numeral 10 to designate an elongated track adapted to be positioned some distance from the side line of a football field 11. This track may be in the form of a rod, bar, or like, and may be permanently installed or portable. The track extends parallel with and the length between the two touchdown lines. The numeral 12 designates a vertical base frame portion. The numerals 13 and 15 designate two spaced apart rotatably mounted in line wheels on the frame 12. These wheels may be of any suitable construction but I ddll ii Patented May 4, 1965 recommend they be pulley or sheave wheels to embrace and engage the track 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Secured at one end to the rear center of the frame 12 is a chain 16. If the measurement is to be that of ten yards, this chain will be exactly ten yards in length. On the free end of the chain 16 is a clamp means 17, capable of being detachably clamped onto a point in the length of the track It}. The frame 12 is normally held in a vertical upright position by a leaf spring pointer 19. This pointer 19 has its rear end secured to the lower central point of the frame 12 and extends toward the playing field and at a right angle to the length of the frame 12, as shown in FIG. 5. The elongated bar leaf pointer 19 is resilient so that by engaging the ground it will only yieldingly hold the frame means in a substantially vertical attitude. Therefore the upper portion of the frame means may be manually swung forwardly against the yielding action of the pointer so that an operator may view through the sight a football 20 that may have been grounded closely adjacent the side line of the playing field. This swinging action of the frame means is shown in FIG. 4.

On the upper portion of the frame 12 is a rectangular sighting frame 21, having a vertical sighting bar or like 22 in its center area. The numeral 23 designates the second rectangular sighting frame having a vertical sighting bar or like 25. This second sighting frame is spaced apart from and directly forward of the first sighting frame and is so held and supported by supporting arms 26 on the base frame 12, and as shown in FIG. 5.

In use the clamp means 1'7 is secured to the track 15 directly opposite from the ball when it is placed into play. Obviously, if the ball is being moved to the right, the clamp will be located to the left of the frame 1-2, and if the ball is being moved by the other team, the clamp will be placed to the right of the frame 12. If there is a question as to whether or not the play or plays have moved the ball the required yardage, the frame 12 is rolled on the track until the chain 12 is taut. The operator merely has to sight through the two sight frames 21 and 23, and align the two vertical sight bars 22 and 25. If the mythical line on the field (created by the two vertical sighting bars 22 and 25) are in advance of the grounded ball, the required distance has not been obtained. If, however, the mythical sight line is to the rear of the football, the team moving the ball will have carried it the required distance. If desired, the track 10 may be secured to the ground or like by headed pins 30 inserted through holes in the base of the track.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple, highly accurate measuring device and one that can be successfully operated by one person.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my measuring means for use in playing football without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A football gains measuring means, comprising in combination,

an elongated track adapted to be positioned parallel to and at one side of the side line of a football playing field area,

a frame,

means on said frame for engaging and moving on said track,

a visual sighting means on said frame an elongated resilient pointer secured to said frame adjacent the lower end thereof extending at a right C9 angle from said track toward the side line of a football playing field,

said resilient pointer being adapted to normally hold said frame in an upright position but deformable to allow said frame to be tilted,

and an elongated, flexible member of predetermined length being operatively secured at one of its ends to said frame in vertical alignment with said sighting means and being detachably secured to said track at its other end.

2. A football gains measuring means, comprising in combination,

an elongated track adapted to be positioned parallel to and at one side of the side line of a football playing field area,

a frame,

means on said frame for engaging and moving on said track,

a visual sighting means on said frame,

an elongated resilient pointer secured to said frame adjacent the lower end thereof extending at a right angle from said track toward the side line of a football playing field,

said resilient pointer being adapted to normally hold said frame in an upright position but deformable to allow said frame to be tilted,

and an elongated, flexible member of predetermined length being operatively secured at one of its ends to said frame in vertical alignment with said sighting means and being detachably secured to said track at its other end,

said visual sighting means being comprised of two spaced apart frames with a vertical reticle means in each frame.

3. A football gains measuring means, comprising in combination,

an elongated track adapted to be positioned parallel to and at one side of the side line of a football playing field area,

a frame,

means on said frame for engaging and moving on said track,

a visual sighting means on said frame,

an elongated resilient pointer secured to said frame adjacent the lower end thereof extending at a right angle from said track toward the side line of a football playing field,

said resilient pointer being adapted to normally hold said frame in an upright position but deformable to allow said frame to be tilted,

and an elongated, flexible member of predetermined length being operatively secured at one of its ends to said frame in a vertical alignment with said sighting means and being detachably secured to said track at its other end,

said means for engaging and moving on said track being comprised of two spaced apart wheels each having a grooved periphery for engaging said track.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 921,889 5/09 Reynolds 33-72 1,709,310 4/29 Dahl 33-73 X 2,795,853 6/57 Benfield et al. 3346.07

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. HULL, ISAAC LISANN, Examiners. 

1. A FOOTBALL GAINS MEASURING MEANS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED TRACK ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED PARALLEL TO AND AT ONE SIDE OF THE SIDE LINE OF A FOOTBALL PLAYING FIELD AREA, A FRAME, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR ENGAGING AND MOVING ON SAID TRACK, A VISUAL SIGHTING MEANS ON SAID FRAME, AN ELONGATED RESILIENT POINTER SECURED TO SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF EXTENDING AT A RIGHT ANGLE FROM SAID TRACK TOWARD THE SIDE LINE OF A FOOTBALL PLAYING FIELD, SAID RESILIENT POINTER BEING ADAPTED TO NORMALLY HOLD SAID FRAME IN UN UPRIGHT POSITION BUT DEFORMABLE TO ALLOW SAID FRAME TO BE TILTED, AND AN ELONGATED, FLEX MEMBER OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH BEING OPERATIVELY SECURED AT ONE OF ITS END TO SAID FRAME IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SIGHTING MEANS AND BEING DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID TRACK AT ITS OTHER END. 